Feeding America Helps Solve Senior Hunger

Charity Provides Food to 7 Million Seniors Annually, May is Older Americans Month

May 6, 2015

Feeding America, the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States, issued a call today to ask everyone to join in the fight to solve senior hunger in our nation.

The Feeding America nationwide network of 200 food banks provides food and grocery products to 7 million seniors annually, through innovative programs designed to ensure all seniors have access to nutritional meals.

Last year, the Feeding America network provided 563 million meals to seniors age 60 and above through special programs including the Senior Grocery Program, Mobile Pantry Program, Senior Cafes, multi-generational meal and food programs and partner programs that focus on feeding seniors who are homebound.

"We know that while hunger affects people of all ages, seniors are particularly vulnerable," said Matt Knott, President of Feeding America. "Older Americans have unique nutritional needs related to aging and medical conditions. With limited incomes many seniors are struggling to make ends meet."

According to Feeding America's recent study, Hunger in America 2014, more than half of all seniors report having to make tradeoffs, sometimes having to choose between purchasing food or paying for healthcare or prescriptions, paying for food or transportation, and paying for food or utilities.

Although Feeding America is working to ensure vulnerable seniors do not have to make these difficult choices, charity alone cannot solve senior hunger.

Feeding America urges everyone to get involved in Older Americans Month in three key ways:

Take a photograph holding a handwritten #SolveSeniorHunger sign and post to social media with the hashtag to elevate the issue.

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About Feeding America

Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, we provide meals to more than 46 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.